Dump-car.



PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

v. M. SUMMA.

DUMP CAR.

APPLIOATIOR FILED APR. 11. 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1- N0 MODEL.

fllweml'o a el-tbomaq PATBNTED MAR. 22, 1904.

V. M. SUMMA.

DUMP GAR. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 11. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

1m: NaRms PETER5 cc. PHOTO-LUNG" wAsnmumw, 0. l

No. 755.412. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

V. M. SUMMA.

DUMP CAR.-

APPLIUATION FILED APB. 11, 1903. N0 MODEL.

5 SHBBTS-BHBET 3.

Nam-15.412. 1 PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

v. M. SUMMA.

DUMP GAR.

APPLIOATIO'N FILED APR. 11. 1903.

H0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 755,412. PATENTBD MAR. 22, 1904. v. M. SUMMA.

DUMP GAR.

' APPLIOATION FILED APR. 11. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 0 o g T o .f? 3 V 00- N R Q a; 0

O 0 KO QC 0 Q o 2 R\ WITNESSES: v INVENTO'R fia/m auwm.

Attorney Tu: Mmms VEYERS cu. Pmid-umo, wnswm'm'ou. n c.

UNITED STATES Fatented March 22, 1904.

PATENT Trice.

DUMP-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,412, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed April 11, 1903. Serial No. 152,225. (No model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VICTOR M. SUMMA,a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dump-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in dump-cars; and its object is to provide a car having its bottom so constructed and arranged that said car can 7 be readily changed from a flat-bottom to either a side or center dump car.

A further object is to employ sills of novel construction upon which the car body is mounted and which serve as supports for the hinged ends of the bottom sections of the car.

Another object is to provide locking and unlocking mechanism whereby the bottom sections can be secured in or released from position, said mechanism being of such a character that the contents of all the cars in a train can be simultaneously dumped by the use of an ordinary locomotive.

A fourth object is to employ mechanism whereby said bottom sections of the cars can be raised into closed position simultaneously or individually.

WVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a car which is mounted upon parallel sills having the upper edges thereof in the form of tubes. The bottom of the car is formed of preferably four sections, two of which are hinged upon the tubular portion of each sill. These sections when in horizontal position form a flat bottom for the car; but a novel arrangement of hoisting cables or chains is employed whereby said sections can be swung upon the tubular ends of the sills, so as to dump the contents of the car either at the sides or center. Locking-dogs are employed within the car for automatically engaging and holding the side sections of the car when they are raised in position to direct the contents of the car toward the center thereof. These locking-dogs are provided with means whereby they may be readily disengaged from the bottom sections and permit them to be lowered. Locking 5 means are also arranged along the sides of the car for supporting the side sections of the bottom in horizontal position. These sections, however, may be detached from said locking means when it is desired to swing them clownward when the contents of the car are to be dumped from the sides thereof. sections of the bottom of the car are adapted to be locked in horizontal or in inclined position by means of suitable mechanism attached thereto, and means are employed whereby these locks of the central sections can be simultaneously operated to disengage the sections.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

showing the preferred form of my invention,

and in which- I Figure l is a vertical transverse section through one end of the car constructed in accordance with my invention, the bottom sections thereof being shown in horizontal position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said car, showing the levers for operating the various locking and unlocking mechanisms. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section through the car, showing the bottom sections thereof ar-' ranged for dumping the contents of said car from the center thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the central sections of the bottom raised into the positions in which they are placed when the car is to be employed for side dumping, the side sections of the bottom being shown lowered in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of my improved car, one end of the side wall being broken away to show the mechanism employed for operating the locking and releasing mechanisms of the bottom sections of the car-body. Fig. 6 is a reduced bottom plan view of the u'nderframe of the car. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section through a lock employed for holding the central sections of the bottom of the car in the position indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section through one of the side supports for holding the side sections in horizontal position. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of said side support and showing the operating-roller in position thereabove.

Figs. 10 and 11 are a vertical section and a 1 The central of the car.

below the same.

perspective view, respectively, of a modified form of locking means for the central sections. Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatlcal views showing in plan and elevation, respectively, a section of a train of cars and the manner in which the operating-cables .of the bottom sections are connected for simultaneous operation of said sections. Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of one of the central sections of the bottom of the car and showing the lock employed for holding said section in either horizontal or raised position. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one end of a car and showing the pulleys of one of the hoistingstrips; and Fig. 16 is a section through the lower portion of one end of the car, showing a sill with the sections 9 and 17 removed therefrom and also showing the position of the rod 68 in relation thereto. Fig.17 is a side elevation of a car such as illustrated in the preceding figures and showing the means for connecting the car-body to the sills, the operating mechanism for the bottom sections being removed. Fig. 18 is a section on line 18 18, Fig. 17, the bottom sections and their operating mechanism being removed; and Fig. 19 is a section on line 19 19, Fig. 17, with the bottom sections and their operating mechanism removed.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a body-bolster to which is connected parallel longitudinally-extending sills 2, the upper edges of which are tubular, as shown at 3. These tubular portions are open at the ends and are in alinement with apertures 4, formed in the bumpers 5 at the ends The body 6 of the car may be of any desired form and material and is preferably divided into two similar compartments by means of a central partition or bulkhead 7. The bottom of each of these compartments is formed of two side and two central sections, which are hinged to the tubes 3 in any suitable manner, preferably by providing curved straps 8 at the edge thereof, which straps are adapted to embrace the tube and work within apertures 8, formed within the sills directly The central sections 9 are of such length as to overlap at all times, and one of them is provided upon its lower surface with oppositely-extending sliding bolts.

10, which are arranged adjacent to the ends thereof. Two levers are arranged upon this section 9, and one of them, 11, is fulcrumed at the center, while the fulcrum of the other lever, 12, is at one end thereof. The two levers are connected by means of a rod 13, and a rod 14 extends from each lever to the adjacent bolt 10. As one of these rods 14 is connected to the lever at a point between the fulcrum and the rod 13 and the other rod 14 to its lever with the fulcrum between it and said rod 13, it is obvious that the two bolts will be retracted or projected simultaneously. If desired, an arm may be arranged upon one of the bolts, whereby a suitable operating device, such as a hooked rod 16, may be placed in engagement therewith when it is desired to lock or unlock the sections. By means of these bolts 10, which are arranged upon the lower one of the sections 9, said sections may be securely locked to the bulkheads when in raised, horizontal, or lowered positions.

The side sections of the bottom of the car are adapted to be supported in horizontal position by means of locking-strips 18, which are hinged to the sides of the car-body and each of which is provided with outwardly-extending arms 19, arranged at suitable intervals. A flange 20 extends from each side of the car and over the arms 19, and arranged below this flange is a longitudinally-extending rod 21, having rollers 22 journaled thereon, said rollers being equal in number to the arms 19 and at the same distances apart as said arms. Springs 23 connect the flanges 20 with an arm 24, formed upon each strip 18, and this spring serves to automatically swing strip 18 downward when the rollers'22 are removed from position above arms 19. The rods 21 are detachably connected at their ends to blocks 25 in any suitable manner, preferably by screwthreading the ends of each rod and placing nuts 21 thereon at opposite sides of the block. One of these nuts is usually removed for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. These blocks 25 are arranged adjacent to the ends of the car, and each has a forwardlyextending hooked arm 26, upon which is a laterally-extending lug 27, which engages a slot 28, formed longitudinally within a lever 29, fulcrumed upon the inner face of the side of the car-body. This lever is adapted to be operated by hand and is kept normally in a vertical position by oppositely disposed springs 30. A rod 31 is also connected to each block 25 and extends along the inner face of the side of the car and is mounted in suitable guides 32. At suitable intervals upon this rod are secured rollers 33, mounted on vertical axles arranged within yokes 34, arranged within said rod. Brackets 35 extend from the inner face of the side of the car, and within each is arranged a horizontal pin 36, extending through a slot 37 and formed within a dog 38. These dogs are arranged at distances apart equal to the distances between the rollers 33 and are normally held in such position that when the rod 31 is moved longitudinally in one direction the rollers thereon will pass under the dogs and force them outward upon their pivot-pins 36. A guard-strip 39 is preferably secured to the side of the body and extends over the :dogs, brackets, and rod 31 and forms a portion of the bottom of the car when the side sections 17 thereof are raised to their highest positions.

In addition to the locking mechanism heretofore described as mounted upon one of the central sections 9 means are provided for locking the two sections together when they are in the positions shown in Fig. 3. This locking mechanism comprises an angle-iron 40, which is secured along the lower edge of one of the sections 9 and is provided with an aperture 41 therein adapted to be engaged by a bolt 42, having a beveled end 43. This bolt extends laterally from a casing 44, secured to the free edge of the remaining center section 9, and a coiled spring 45 is arranged within this casing and is interposed between the end thereof and the inner end of bolt 42, and a plunger 46 extends longitudinally through the casing 44 and the end of the bolt 42. This bolt has a passage 47 therein, within which is fitted a. piston 48., connected, by means of a link 49, to the inner end of plunger 46. A passage 50 extends downward from passage 47 at an angle thereto, and within the same is mounted a catch 51, having a spring 52 behind it for holding the same normally projected from the passage 50, before referred to. An aperture 53 is formed within the piston 48, and engages one end of a strip 54, mounted upon a central pivot 55. The opposite end .of this strip engages the catch 51, and it will be understood that when plunger 46 is drawn outward the piston 53 will cause strip 54 to swing upon its pivot and raise the catch 51 out from behind the side of the aperture 41, within which the bolt 42 is arranged. Before the piston can slide off the pivoted strip 54 the movement thereof within the bolt is stopped by the link 49 coming into contact with the end of the passage 47 in the bolt, and then as the plunger 46 is farther withdrawn from the casing 44 thebolt 42 will be withdrawn from aperture 41 and the two sections 9 unlocked from each other. When plunger 46 is released, the spring 45 will return the parts to projected or normal position.

Upon each end bulkhead of the car and adjacent to the upper edge thereof are journaled, preferably, three pulleys 56, 57, and 58, respectively, one of which, 57,.is located at the center of the edge of the bulkhead. A cable, chain, or other similar flexible device 59 is mounted upon the pulley 58 and is provided with a hooked end 60, adapted to engage one of the side sections 9, at a point adjacent to the outer edge thereof. This cable or chain 59 also extends over side pulleys 61 and 62 and thence inward to a point in alinement with the tubular edge 3 of one of the sills 2. A rod, chain, or cable 63 extends through this tube 3, and the end of chain or cable 59 is adapted to be connected thereto. The tube 8 upon the remaining sill of the car is also provided with an operating rod or cable 68, and this is adapted to be connected to a flexible strip 64, preferably formed of a chain or cable which is mounted upon side pulleys 65 and 66, respectively, which are arranged atthe opposite side of the car-body. Two hooks 67 are arranged at the end of the operating-strip 64, and each is adapted to be secured to the inner end of one of the central sections 9 of the bottom of the car. When in engagement therewith, said operating-strip is placed upon the central pulley 57. This strip can, however, be employed for hoisting the adjacent side section 17, and in such case it is removed from pulley 57 and brought downward from pulley 56, and one of its hooks 67 is placed in engagement with thesection 17 thereunder at a point adjacent to its outer edge. I have shown this arrangement of the hoisting-strip in Fig. 3, and in Fig. 4 both hooks of the strip are shown connected to the central section 9.

A rod 68 extends longitudinally of the car at a point between the parallel sills 2 and below the tubular edges thereof. This rod is adapted to be connected by means of chains 69 to the outer ends of the plungers 46 of the locking mechanisms hereinbefore described. An operating lever or handle 7 O is'secured to each end of the rod 68, and it is obvious that when said rod is turned thereby from either end of the car the chain 69 will be wound thereon and the plungers 46 drawn outward from their ends, thereby unlocking the central sections 9 at the bottom of the car simultaneously.

In lieu of the locking mechanism hereinbefore described for securing the central sections in position prior to center dumping, I may employ a series of locks similar to those illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. These locks comprise a series of couplers, preferably of Janney type, which are secured to angle-irons 71 and 72, arranged along the inner edges of said central sections. The knuckles 7 3 of these couplers are adapted to engage the opposite members 74 when the sections are swung together and can only be disengaged by the withdrawal of a locking-pin 75. These pins are adapted to be connected to the rod 68, before referred to, by means of the chains 69, and it will be understood that when the rod is turned the pins will be withdrawn simultaneously and the two edges of the sections unlocked.

The sections 9 and 17 of the bottom of the car are normally substantially horizontal, as shown in Fig. 1, the central sections 9 being held in such position by the locking-bolts 10, hereinbefore described, said bolts engaging two of a series of sockets 76, formed in the bulkheads of the car. When it is desired to arrange the car for side dumping, the hoisting chain or cable 64 is placed upon pulley 57, and the hooks thereon are placed into engagement with the inner ends of said central sections. The said hoisting-cable can be drawn downward at the side of the car, or, if desired, the strips 63, to which it is secured, may be fastened to a stationary object in rear of the car and said car drawn forward until the central sections 9 have been swung upward the desired distance. They are then locked in such positions by forcing the bolts 10 into engagement with the sockets 76, adjacent thereto. When it is desired to dump the contents of the car to the sides thereof, it is merely necessary to draw the lever 29 in one direction, and this will cause the two rods 31 and 21 to move longitudinally. The rollers 22 will be moved off of the arms 19, which eX- tend laterally from the supporting-strip 18, and said strip will promptly swing downward and permit the side sections 17 to drop into the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the lever 29 is released after the side sections have been dropped, the springs 30, connected thereto, will return it and the rods 31 and 21 to their normal positions, and it is obvious that the rollers 22 will, upon assuming positions above the arms 19, return the supporting-plates 18 to their horizontal positions. When it is desired to raise the side sections to their former or horizontal positions, the hoisting-strip 64 is removed from engagement with the central sections 9 and is brought downward from pulley 56, so that one of its hooks 67 may be placed in engagement with that side section 17 which is under the pulley. The other hoisting-strip, 59, is also placed into engagement with the side sec tion 17 thereunder, and the rods or cables 63 within the tubes 3 are then fastened to a stationary object in rear of the car. It will thus be obvious that when the car is moved forward by means of a locomotive or other motor the strips 63 will be drawn longitudinally within the tubes 3, and the hoisting-strips 59 and 64 will be drawn upward within the car and raise the side sections therewith. When the edges of these sections contact with the supporting-strips 18, said strips will be forced upward,thereby tensioning the springs 23, and

as soon as these supporting-strips are releasedsaid springs will return them to their horizontal positions under the side sections. Should the hoisting-strips be detached from the side sections after they reach this point, they will be supported, as is obvious,upon the strips 18; but should the upward movement of the sections continue they will be brought into contact with the lower ends of dogs 38 and force the same upward upon their pivot-pins 36. As soon as the sections pass the dogs said dogs will fall into position thereunder, and as they are normally prevented from swinging backward by the rollers 33, before referred to, it isobvious that these dogs will securely lock the side sections in position directly under the guard-strips 39', as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the side sections are in the position above described, the car can be readily converted into a center dump by releasing the bolts 10 of the lower central section from engagement with the sockets 7 6 and permitting said sections to'swing downward until their edges are brought together, as illustrated in Fig. 3. They are then looked together by means of the bolts 42. As before stated, these central sections can be unlocked from each other by turning the rod 68, and as soon as this is done said sections will fall away from each other and the contents of the car will be directed toward the center by the inclined side sections 17. In order to return the side sections from their inclined positions to a horizontal plane, lever 29 is swung upon its fulcrum in a direction opposite to that described and the rod 31 is moved therewith and causes the rollers 33 to withdraw from under the dogs 38. These dogs will promptly swing outward from the paths of the side sections and the sections will drop into position upon the supportingstrips 18. Prior to this operation of the lever the inner nut 21 upon rod'21 is screwed thereupon to a position slightly removed from the block 25, and it is therefore obvious that said rod will not be moved simultaneously with rod 31 at this time. After the dogs have been released the springs 30 will return the lever 29 and rods 31 to their normal positions and the rollers'33 will be brought again into position beneath the dogs. The nut 21 can then be returned to position upon the adjacent face of its block 25. As two rods 31 and 21 are arranged within each car and as each pair of these rods has an operatinglever 29 at each end, it is obvious that the sections 17 can be operated independently of each other and can be only dropped simultaneously when the levers of the rods are moved in unison. In lieu of employing the levers 29 for releasing the side sections an engine may be connected to the hooked link 26 and when moved forward will cause the rods 21 and 31 to move longitudinally. By connecting the hooked links 26 of all the cars in a train it will be seen that these cars will be dumped simultaneously when the engine connected to the hook of the end car is moved forward.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown diagrammatically the manner in which the hoistingstrips 59 and 64 may be connected so as to permit the sections within all the cars of a 1 train to be hoisted in unison. To secure this result, it is merely necessary to couple the ends of the rods, or cables 63 within tubes 3, so as to form practically two parallel rods-or cables extending the full length of the train. When it is desired to hoist the sections, the rear end of the cable or rod 63 of the rear car is fastened to a stationary object in rear of said car, and when the train is drawn forward all of the hoisting-strips 59 and 64 will be operated in unison and the sections connected thereto will be raised.

The body of the car having the movable bottom sections herein described is secured to the sills 2 by means of metallic brackets 77 and fillers 78, which are bolted to the sills and to the movable end portions 7 9 of the floor of the car. These brackets and fillers will, as is obvious, securely fasten the car-body to the sills. Gusset-plates are bolted to the sills and to the bottom of the bulkhead 7 at the center of the car and serve to brace the carbody 6 at that point.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a car, the combination with a sill having a tube integral therewith, and a car-body mounted upon said sill; of a bottom section hinged upon said tube, an operating-strip extending through and slidably mounted within the tube, and a flexible connection between said strip and the bottom section, whereby said section may be swung upon its hinge.

2. In a car, the combination with a sill having a tube integral therewith and extending longitudinally thereof; of a car-body mounted upon the sill, a bottom section thereto hinged to the tube, an operating strip extending through and slidable within the tube, and a connecting-strip secured to said operatingstrip and extending over said body and secured to the bottom section.

3. In a car, the combination with sills having tubes thereon and extending longitudinally thereof; of a car-body mounted upon the sills, bottom sections to the car body hinged upon the tubes of the sills, operatingstrips extending through and slidably mount ed within the tubes, pulleys upon the body, and flexible strips upon said pulleys and connected at opposite ends to the operating-strips and the bottom sections, respectively.

4. In a car, the combination with sills having tubes at the upper edges thereof; of outwardly and inwardly extending bottom sections hinged upon said tubes, operating-strips extending through and slidably mounted within the tubes, and flexible means whereby said operating-strips may be connected to the bottom sections for raising the same.

5. In a car, the combination with a sill, a car-body mounted thereon, and a bottom section hinged to said sill; of a dog pivoted within the body and adapted to support said section in inclined position, a roller below said dog for holding the same in position under the section, and means for operating said roller from or toward the dog.

6. The combination with a sill, a car-body thereon, and a bottom section hinged upon said sill; of a guard-strip within said body, a

dog pivoted beneath the strip and adapted to support the section in contact With the strip, a roller for holding the dog in position under the seetion,and means for operating said roller.

7. The combination with a sill, a car-body mounted thereon, and a bottom section hinged to the sill; of a dog pivoted within the body and adapted to support said section in inclined position, and means for holding said dog in position beneath the section.

8. The combination with a car-body having a bottom section hinged therein; of dogs pivoted to the side of said body and adapted to support said section in inclined position,means for holding the dogs in position beneath the inclined section, and a rod for operating said means simultaneously from or toward the dogs.

9. The combination with a car-body having a hinged bottom section, and means for hold-- ing said section in inclined position; of asupporting-strip for holding the sections in horizontal position, an arm thereto, a roller upon the arm, and means for operating the roller whereby said arm and strip may be released.

10. The combination with a car-body having a hinged bottom section, and means for supporting said section in inclined position; of a supporting-strip within the body for holding the section in horizontal position, an arm to said strip, a roller normally mounted upon the arm and adapted to hold the strip in position beneath the section.

11. The combination with a car-body having a bottom section hinged therein; of a supporting-strip for holding said section in a horizontal position, an arm to the strip, aroller mounted upon the arm and adapted to lock the strip in supporting position, a dog pivoted Within the body and adapted. to support the section in inclined position, a roller thereunder for holding said dog beneath the section, a lever fulcrumed upon the lock, and means whereby said rollers may be operated from said lever.

12. The combination with a car-body having a bottom section hinged therein; of a supporting-strip hinged to the side of the car and adapted to support said section, arms extending from the strip, a roller upon each arm whereby the strip is held in supporting position, an operating-lever, and a rod connecting said lever to the rollers whereby the arms may be released simultaneously.

13. The combination with a car-body having a bottom section hinged therein; of a longitudinally-movable dog pivoted within said body and adapted to support said section in inclined position, a rod within the body, rollers journaled thereon and adapted to hold the dogs in supporting position, and means for operating said rollers in unison.

14. The combination with a car-body having a bottom section hinged therein; of longitudinally-movable dogs pivoted within said body and adapted to support said section in inclined position, a rod extending under the dogs, rollers thereon for holding said dogs in supporting position, a supporting-strip hinged to the body and adapted to hold said section in horizontal position, arms thereto, rollers normally mounted upon the arms and adapted to hold said strip in position beneath the section, a rod connecting the rollers, and'a lever connected to the rods whereby the, supporting dogs and strip may be operated simultaneously for releasing the section. I

15. The combination with a car-body having a hinged bottom section and a guard-strip within said body of a series of longitudinallymovable dogs pivoted beneath said guard-strip and adapted to support the section in inclined position, means for holding the dogs in supporting position, a rod connecting said means whereby the dogs may be released simultaneously, a supporting-strip hinged to the body and adapted to support said section, arms extending therefrom, means upon the arms for holding the strip in supporting position, a rod connecting said means whereby the arms may be released simultaneously, an operating-lever fulcrumed upon the body and connected to said rods, and springs for returning the lever and rods to normal positions.

16. The combination with a car-body having sills thereunder and cylindrical portions thereto; of side and central bottom sections hinged upon said cylindrical portions, means for holding the outer edges of the side sections in inclined or horizontal position, and means for securing the central sections together.

17. The combination with a car-body having central bottom sections hinged therein; of a sliding bolt upon one of said sections adapted to engage the end of the car whereby the sections are held in inclined positions, and means for locking the sections together.

18. The combination with a car-body having central bottom sections hinged therein; of an angle-iron upon one of said sections and having an aperture therein, a lock-casing upon the opposite section, a bolt slidably mounted within said casing and adapted to project into an aperture in the angle-iron, whereby said sections are secured together.

19. In a car of the character described, the combination with hinged bottom sections; of an angle-iron secured to one of said sections and having an aperture therein, a casing upon the opposite section, a tubular bolt slidably mounted within the casing and normally projected therefrom, said bolt being adapted to project into the aperture in the angle-iron, a laterally movable catch within the bolt, a plunger, a piston within the bolt connected to the plunger, and a pivoted strip engaging said piston and catch whereby the catch and bolt may be retracted simultaneously.

20. The combination with a car-body having bottom sections hinged thereto, and a revoluble rod arranged adjacent to said sections; of locking means upon the adjoining edges of thesections, and a flexible connection between the rod and locking means, whereby the sections may be, unlocked from one end of the car. 21. The combination with a car-bod y having bottom sections hinged therein; of a casing upon one of said sections, a spring-pressed tubular bolt normally extending fromv said casing and adapted to engagethe opposite section, a laterally-movable spring-pressed catch within the bolt, a piston within the bolt, a 'centrally-pivoted strip connecting said catch and piston, a plunger within the bolt and casing and connected to the piston, a rod journaled beneath the car and extending longitudinally thereof, and a flexible connection between said rod and plunger, whereby when said rod is revolved the catch and bolt will be simultaneously retracted by the plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in I presence of two witnesses.

VICTOR M. SUMMA.

Witnesses LOUIS LEWIN,

J ERMARO (JARLUIN. ,5 

